Kinetics and mechanism of base-catalyzed cleavage of some bicyclo[4.2.0.]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-one (benzocyclobuten-1(2H)-one) derivatives

The kinetics of cleavage of 3-hydroxybicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-ones in aqueous sodium hydroxide, and of the alkoxy and acetoxy analogues in methanolic sodium methoxide solution, were examined under pseudo-first-order reaction conditions. The dependence of the rate upon the basicity of the solvent, whether measured by H_? or by [OR^?], reflects the possible structure of the transition state. The deduced mechanism is also supported by the effects of substituents upon the reaction rate. The relative amounts of the volatile reaction products derived from o-toluic acid and from phenylacetic acid are understood in terms of the substituent effect upon the relative stabilities of the carbanions.